Team.
Carlos Salvador, Director
Carlos has an extensive track record in social enterprise, spending 14 years developing social outreach agendas for NGOs across a multitude of sectors and disciplines, as well as consulting for major brands such as Nike, Adidas, Ford Motors and many others.
In his role as Football Journeys’ Director, Carlos leads the organisation, ensuring its next phase of growth reaches as many young people as possible across London boroughs and beyond. He brings to the role his wealth of experience across strategy, business development, marketing, communications and working with young people from minoritised backgrounds.
Hannah Anketell, Head Of Operations & Culture
Hannah is a versatile professional, facilitator and dynamic project leader.
She spent 12 years as a professional photographer, establishing her own creative studio, capturing moments with musicians, political figures and entrepreneurs whilst also curating various community spaces and events. Transitioning into coaching and facilitation, Hannah has actively contributed to the development of leadership programmes in top business institutes and education sectors.
Hannah's mission with young people is grounded in the belief that everyone can shine when provided with a space where they are truly seen and heard.
Hannah now leads Operations & Culture. Her goal is to transform the organisational culture for the benefit of the young participants, coaches and staff, whilst aligning with the charity’s mission, vision and values.
Josh Pugh, Programme Manager
Josh is a football coach with a background in youth work and campaigns. He worked on the world's largest ever voter registration campaign in 2016, before joining The Advocacy Academy to head up recruitment for their social justice fellowship. After joining FJ at the end of 2021 as a coach, he delivered on the programme for two years, working across three different schools. He was recently made Programme Manager, and will be overseeing delivery in 2024. Away from FJ, Josh works for Arsenal as a goalkeeper coach, and loves a double espresso.
Lucy Talbot, Administrator
Lucy has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of administration; after leaving school she started work for a public utility company supporting a busy transport workshop, when letters were created on a typewriter and filing was put in a cabinet, not a computer or cloud in sight! She then moved into the private sector and gained experience in Facilities and Purchasing management and later Quality and Training; before returning to the public sector where she worked as a Trading Standards support officer.
After taking a career break to start a family, she returned to administrative work but thanks to the huge advancements in technology she was able to work virtually from home, which is what led to her role with Football Journeys. The charity sector is not one she was familiar with, but Lucy couldn’t be happier helping us to deliver our programme and seeing the positive impact it has on young people.
Rachel Yankey OBE, Former England and Arsenal Women Player (Patron)
“Young people participating in FJ don’t just talk about change. They make it happen by advocating tolerance and peace and encouraging their peers to become positive members of their communities. FJ is creating a community of young leaders, uniting an often divided city, celebrating differences and embracing similarities. Having seen FJ for myself I am delighted to be a Patron for their work.”
Our Trustees
Yasmin Amevor, Trustee
Yasmin Amevor is an in-house legal professional in a global workforce management and procurement company, where she specialises drafting and negotiating commercial contracts. She also brings a wealth of legal expertise from other sectors to the charity and has a strong background in children’s social welfare law from working for a local authority. In addition to her legal knowledge Yasmin has had a professional career in the creative industries and social media.
She is a dynamic and proactive individual with a commitment to fostering access to opportunities through sports and leadership opportunities, which aligns perfectly with FJ’s mission and approach. Yasmin brings her passion and experience to the charity, to ensure its work adheres to the highest standards of legality and ethics and strengthen its messaging and communications.
Nicola Pollock, Chair of Trustees
Nicola has a background in the charitable and voluntary sector, most recently in grant making with independent funder John Ellerman Foundation and previously at Esmée Fairbairn. Prior to that she was involved with providing, developing and supporting advice services at national, regional and local level, before joining the newly formed National Lottery Charities Board, where she was based in the North East of England. Nicola is a trustee of Local Trust and Social and Sustainable Capital Trust, Chair of the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action and a director of the Oversight Trust.
Christopher Holmes, Treasurer
Chris has worked in the charity sector for 10 years. He is the Head of Finance and Resources for the UK Branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and also acts as the Treasurer for the Saint Sarkis Charity Trust. He has worked for both Foundations and fundraising charities in finance and office manager roles.
Chris is a qualified accountant (ACCA), holds an MSc from University College London and a BA from Lancaster University.
Other than numbers, Chris is passionate about football and believes everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits and experiences football can bring to people’s lives.
Emmanuel Akin, Trustee
Experienced youth leader Emmanuel first served as a young Ambassador at FJ in the early years of 2013, and since then Emmanuel has been a part of the core growth of the organisation until date. His involvement throughout the years has brought inspiration to many, with his resilience to impact a generation positively. As a trustee member he now sets his focus on strengthening all youth initiatives at FJ. Emmanuel has fantastic skills in advocacy and public speaking that will help FJ grow and develop even stronger youth participation approaches in our work. Emmanuel is an Ambassador for the Peabody Trust, a former elected member of Hackney Youth Parliament and works as a Youth Engagement Officer for the London Borough of Hackney.
Rafael Alleyne, Trustee
Rafael is an Assistant Principal at The London Screen Academy in Islington. For more than 20 years working in Education, as a Science teacher, he’s also specialised in areas of young people's personal development, such as pastoral care, behaviour, safeguarding and special educational needs. Rafael has experience working with Local Authorities with school and Home Office initiatives. He has also worked with organisations and specialist interventions that support young people and families. Rafael also has experience competing as a sprint athlete and coaching young children. Using sport as a personal development strategy is one of his passions.
Rafael’s mission driven approach to work perfectly supports his responsibilities with outreach and marketing for the London Screen Academy’s mission and vision. He now sets his focus on bringing a similar approach to FJ.
Matt Collins, Trustee
Matt has been working with charities for 20 years. He has worked in fundraising and volunteer recruitment, training and support for charities like St John Ambulance, ChildLine and children's mentoring charity Chance UK.
He now focuses on digital marketing and started a digital marketing for agency for charities called Platypus Digital in 2014. The agency now works with charities like Barnardo's, Sightsavers and Dementia UK.
He's a big believer in the power of football in bringing people together, and loves sharing this with his daughters who love watching the Crystal Palace women's team. He also loves a good dad joke (far too much, according to everyone else in his life).
Pablo Blackwood, Trustee
Pablo Blackwood comes from an established background in both football and Youth & Community work. A highly respected qualified, award winning coach and Youth Worker, Who works both nationally and internationally.
Pablo has been invited to share his knowledge and best practices at The Premier League, Downing Street, House of Commons, Ministry of Justice, London Youth and the European Football for Development Network to name a few.
He has featured on top tier media outlets including BBC, Channel 4 and Sky discussing topical issues such as Mental Health, Race and Racism, Youth Work and Parenting. Some of his key roles away from Youth & Community work is supporting the holistic development of Academy footballers. Race & Ethnicity lead at Queens Park Rangers Football Club. Mentoring programme Manager, Leadership development, Coach education and utilising Sport for social change.
He is also Deputy Lieutenant for the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.